Calculating machine



Allg- 13, 1935- c. M. F. FRIDEN ET A1. 2,011,274

CALCULATING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 8, 1930 A TTORNE Y Patented Aug. 13, 1935 .PATENT OFFICE CALCULATING MACHINE Carl M. F. Friden, Piedmont, and Gustav Lerch,

Oakland, Calif., assignors to Marchant Calculating Machine Company, a corporation of California Application February 8, 1930, Serial No. 426,921 Renewed July 17, 1934 11 Claims.

The invention relates to calculating machines and particularly to calculating machines equipped with a longitudinally displaceable carriage for accumulating values therein during computations.

An object of the present invention is to provide suitable instrumentalities for positively locking the carriage of a calculating machine against longitudinal movement during the time that the actuator is out of full cycle position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for latching the carriage locking mechanlsm in active position during multicyclic operation of the actuating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for latching a centralizing means in inoperative position during multicyclic operation of the actuating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for latching a displaceable member in displaced position during multicycle operations when oscillation of such member upon each cycle of movement of the actuator is undesirable.

A further object is to provide a carriage locking mechanism with the above attributes which can be readily incorporated in a. calculating machine without materially changing the construction of the same.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description where will be outlined in full that form of the invention which has been selected for illustration in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

Referring to the drawing, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through part of a calculating machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a, fragmentary sectional plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 3 shows a detail of the new mechanism.

Figure 4 is a partial front elevation of the new carriage locking devices.v

The form of construction selected for illustration in the present application will be rather specifically described, but it is to be understood at the outset, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

The calculating machine embodying the present invention is of the rotary type, having a rotatable' actuator of the reversible cycle type, which is rotated from initial or neutral stop position through a complete cycle in either direction to perform a calculating operation. Values are entered into this actuator and are, upon rotation (Cl. 23S-130) of the various numeral wheels ci the accumulator possible.

The means for entering the values into the actuator and the means for shifting the accumulator carriage from one value position to another are not shown in the accompanying drawing, but any suitable mechanism, such as disclosed in the Friden Patent 1,643,710, may be used for this purpose. It is necessary, however, to provide interlocking means between the actuator and the accumulator carriage displaceable relatively thereto, to prevent the operator from employing the shifting mechanism of the latter while the actuator is out of full cycle position, or from manipulating the actuator controls while the carriage is being displaced to a higher or lower numerical order. It' can be readily seen that with this interlocking mechanism incorporated in the calculating machine, the mechanism of said machine is safeguarded against faulty operation on the part of the operator, and against serious damage to parts of the machine which would necessarily result therefrom. It is also apparent that the provision of latching means to hold aV displaceable member in displaced or inoperative position during multicyclic operation eliminates wear on the parts and also serves to reduce noise in the machine.

'I'his locking mechanism and the latching mechanism therefor which constitute the specific embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in connection with an electrically driven calculating machine, but it is understood that it cai' also be embodied in a manually operable calculating machine without changing the construction of the mechanism concerned.

The calculating machine disclosed in this application comprises a base plate, mounted thereon are two side plates and a center plate, between which are arranged the various devices for controlling the operation of the machine. Among these devices is a. clutch H which controls the duration of operation of the calculating mechanisms upon depression of certain control keys not here shown. The clutch H0 is of the ratchet wheel and pawl type, and serves to connect the drive shaft l0!) with the shaft to be driven when one of the control keys is depressed, and bell crank II5,pivotally secured to shaft IIS, is rocked to release the pawl within said clutch housing. The clutch housing is now connected with the driving element and rotates in unison therewith.

Two gears, |3| and |32, are secured to the clutch housing in such a way that either one of Athe two gears is rotated by the clutch housing to transmit movement to the actuating elements, as shown in the patent to Friden, Number 1,682,901.

If it is desired to rotate the actuator 300 in a positive direction, as during addition and multiplication, gear |3| is coupled to said clutch housing and transmits movementto the actuator through gears |03, |05, |06, and |01. If, on the other hand, the actuator 300 is to rotate in a negative direction, as during subtraction and division, the gear |32 is then .engaged to be rotated by the clutch ||0. In that case, rotational movement is transmitted to the actuator 300 through the gear train |32, |0|, |03, |05, |06, and |01.

Disposed directly in front of the actuator `300, and shiftably arranged thereto, is an accumulator carriage 400 which rests on a guiding member 500 so as to permit said carriage to move longitudinally, parallel to the axis of the actuator. Suitable means are provided for shifting the carriage in either a step-by-step movement, or continuously to either end of `its range of travel to permit the action of the actuating elements on the counting wheels 4|| of different value. `The shifting mechanism for the carriage is not clisclosed in this application, since it does not form part of the present invention. Any suitable form of mechanism may be used.

`modates the nose 598| of a cam lever 598, pivotally secured to the center frame at 5982, and always held in contact with the cam disc by a spring 5983 which is tensioned between a lug on said lever and a stud riveted to the center frame.

Rotational movement, therefore, of the clutch I0, consequently causes cam disc 591 to rotate and rock lever 598 in a clockwise direction. The recess 591| is of such dimension that the nose 598| can only enter'recess 591| when the actuator andA associated instrumentalities are in full cycle, or neutral position. It is to be noted that cam disc 591 and lever 598 due to the coaction of recess 591|, nose 590|, and spring 5983 serve as a means to centralize the actuator in full cycle position. y

The upper end 5984,0 f lever 598 is adapted to enter one of the slots 40|0 of a plate 40| attached operating cycle `of the actuator and-can only be pulled back to its normal or initial position by the spring 5983 after the actuating elements and cam disc 591 have stopped, or are passing through full cycle position. 'I'he carriage is therefore securely locked against movement in either direction.

It is also impossible to rotate the actuator 300 While the carriage is being shifted since in that case, plate 40| serves as an abutment for lever 598 and prevents anyV movement thereof so that cam disc 591 is locked against rotation.

The construction employed in former calculating machines for locking the carriage during computations, only included a cam disc similar to the present one, but of sufficient diameter to stradde with its recess, the plate 40| attached to the carriage 400. During operation of the machine, an operator oftentimes rides the shifting mechanism with the result that the plate 40| was continuously pressed against a rotating cam disc and thel parts concerned were constantly subjected to such great frictional wear that replacements became very frequent and necessary, to prevent misalignment of the calculating elements. With the cam lever 598 included as shown in the drawing,l this disadvantage has been entirely overcome.

Means are also provided in the new construction forming part of this application, which cooperate with the automatic clutch control devices to hold the cam lever 598 in its eiective position, independent of cam disc 591, when consecutive rotations of the actuator' are necessary, as during automatic multiplication or division.

For this purpose, a locking lever 599 has been pivotally secured to the front face of the lower part of the center frame at 599|.

This lever is equipped with an upper arm 5992, projecting through a suitable aperture 5993 in the center frame and a lower arm 5994 which extends at right angles to the former and underlies a pin 5| of the bell crank l I5 which controls the position of said lever 599. A tension spring 5995, fastened with one end to the lever 599, and with the other end to the foot of the center frame, retains this locking lever in such a position that arm 5994 thereof is always in contact with the pin ||5| of the bell crank ||5 while the other arm 5992 is held normally as shown in Figure 3, slightly away from the cam lever 598. The moment bell crank 5 is rocked by the link |2| to recede from the clutch housing to allow the same to rotate in unison with the drive shaft, the locking lever 599 is also rocked in a counter clockwise direction by the tension spring 5995, the arm 5994 always remaining in contact with the pin |5| of said bell crank. The upper arm 5992 of course has, at the same time, intersected the path of cam lever 59B, and located directly in back of it, retaining the same in its locking position with respect to the carriage locking plate 40|, until the bell crank is again allowed to move back to initial location through the action .of its strong tension spring |I52. The pin 5| overlying arm 5994 of locking lever 599, forces the latter to participate in the rocking movement of bell crank |5 and oscillates it to regain its initial or ineffective position against the tension of spring 5995. This movement, of course, has pulled arm 5992 away from the rear face .of cam lever 598, and permitted the same to relocate its nose 598| in the recess 591| ofcam 591.

Thus, it will be seen that the rst movement of prevents the lever 598 from unlocking the carriage at the end of each cycle in a multicycle operation. Since a hand operated machine does not ordinarily include a clutch, this latching member 599 is desirable only in motor driven models.

We claim:-

1. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, driving means having two directions of movement, a member movable into blocking relation with a portion of said carriage, means controlled by said driving means upon movement. in either direction for moving said member, and means for latching said member in blocking position.

2. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, driving means operable from a neutral position through an invariable cycle of movement and back to neutral position, an oscillable member movable into blocking relation with a portion of said carriage, means controlled by said driving means upon cyclic movement for moving said member, and means for latching said member.

3. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, driving means operable from a neutral position through an invariable cycle of movement and back to neutral position, a reciprocable member operable by said driving means upon riage to prevent displacement thereof, and means for latching said member in engagement with said carriage.

4. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, cyclically operable driving means, controlling means therefor, means controlled by said driving means for locking said carriage against displacement, and means controlled by said drive controlling means for latching said locking member in operative position during multicyclic operation.

5. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, driving means, a control element therefor, a member movable into blocking relation with a portion of said carriage, -means controlled by said driving means upon cyclic movement for moving said member, and means controlled by said control element for latching said member in engagement with said carriage.

6. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, driving means, a .control element therefor, a. member movable into blocking relation with a portion of said carriage, means controlled by said driving means upon cyclic movement for moving said member, means for latching said member, and means controlled by said control element for moving said latching means to inoperative position.

7. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, driving means, a member movable into blocking relation with a portion of said carriage, means controlled by said driving means upon cyclic movement for moving said member, means for latching said member in engagement with said carriage and means for moving said latching means to inoperative position.

8. In a calculating machine having a displacea'ble carriage, driving means, a control element therefor, a member movable into blocking relation with said carriage upon cyclic movement of said driving means, a normally restrained latch for said member, and means controlled by said control element for releasing said latch.

9. In a calculating machine having a displaceable carriage, driving means, a control element therefor, a member movable into blocking relation with said carriage upon cyclic movement of said driving means, a normally restrained latch for said member, and means controlled by said control element upon drive engaging movement for releasing said latch and upon ldrive interrupting movement for restoring said latch to restrained position.

10. In a calculating machine having driving means, a control element therefor, a member movable by said driving means upon cyclic movement thereof, and devices for inhibiting further movement of said member during multicyclic operations, ccmprising means controlled by said control element upon drive engaging movement for latching said member in its displaced position and upon drive interrupting movement for delatching said member.

ll. In a calculating machine having cyclically operable actuating means, controlling means therefor, means displaceable by said actuating means upon passing through full-cycle position, and devices for inhibiting further movement of said displaceable means during multicyclic operations, comprising means controlled by said controlling means upon drive engaging movement to latch said displaceable means in displaced position, and means controlled by said controlling means upon drive interrupting movement to delatch said displaced means.

CARL M. F. FRIDEN. GUSTAV LERCH. 

